Swing trading penny stocks can be a profitable endeavor for traders looking to capitalize on short-term price movements. Penny stocks, defined as stocks trading under $5 per share, tend to be more volatile than higher priced stocks, making them well-suited for swing trading strategies. However, penny stocks also carry higher risk, so proper research and risk management are imperative.
This article will examine the best penny stocks under $10 for swing trading based on price volatility, trading volume, technical indicators, and fundamental analysis. We will also provide an overview of key swing trading strategies, risk management tips, and frequently asked questions about trading penny stocks.
How to Find Good Penny Stocks to Swing Trade
When evaluating penny stocks for swing trading potential, here are some key factors to analyze:
Price Volatility
Look for penny stocks exhibiting high volatility and price fluctuations over the past 5-10 trading days. Stocks frequently moving 5-10% or more in a day allow swing traders to capitalize on the price swings. Check historical charts to identify volatile penny stocks.
Trading Volume
Volume indicates the liquidity of a stock. Look for penny stocks trading at least 500,000 shares per day on average. High volume ensures swing traders can enter and exit positions with ease. Low volume penny stocks should be avoided.
Technical Indicators
Analyze technical indicators like moving averages, RSI, MACD, and candlestick patterns to identify entry and exit points for trades. Stocks exhibiting strong technical indicator signals are prime swing trade candidates.
Fundamentals
While penny stocks are often more speculation-driven, analyzing fundamentals like earnings, debt levels, and industry trends can help identify higher quality penny stocks. Make sure the company has a solid financial position.
Catalysts
Look for upcoming earnings reports, FDA announcements, product releases, or other events that could trigger a price movement in a penny stock. Swing trade penny stocks with near-term catalysts.
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Top 10 Penny Stocks Under $10 for Swing Trading
Utilizing the analysis factors mentioned above, here are 10 of the best penny stocks under $10 to swing trade right now:
Company Name (Ticker)
Castor Maritime Inc (CTRM)
Citius Pharmaceuticals (CTXR)
Aytu BioScience (AYTU)
Aemetis Inc (AMTX)
Loop Industries (LOOP)
Vislink Technologies (VISL)
Neovasc Inc (NVCN)
BioLine Rx (BLRX)
Camber Energy (CEI)
Ocugen Inc (OCGN)
Swing Trading Strategies for Penny Stocks
When swing trading penny stocks, it’s crucial to employ strategies to capitalize on price movements while managing risk. Here are some effective swing trade strategies:
Momentum Trading
Momentum traders buy penny stocks experiencing strong short-term uptrends and sell when the momentum slows. This strategy aims to ride the momentum.
Breakout Trading
Trade penny stock breakouts above key resistance levels, then sell when the breakout fails. Breakouts signal a potential continued move higher.
Pullback Trading
Buy penny stocks on short-term price pullbacks during an uptrend. The goal is to get in at discounted prices, then ride the overall trend.
Reversal Trading
Take advantage of oversold price reversals where penny stocks bounce off a support level. Oversold RSI levels can signal potential reversals.
Range Trading
Trade the range by buying near support and selling at resistance when a penny stock oscillates between channel levels. Effective for rangebound stocks.
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How to Manage Risk with Penny Stock Swing Trading
While penny stocks offer alluring upside potential, they also carry considerable risk that needs to be managed properly. Here are some tips for minimizing risk:
- Use stop-loss orders on all trades to automatically exit positions if prices fall below a defined level. This contains losses.
- Diversify across multiple penny stocks rather than over-concentrating. Diversity lowers risk if one stock plunges.
- Limit position sizes to 1-5% of your account on any one penny stock. Oversized positions increase risk of ruin.
- Book profits quickly when targets are reached; don’t get greedy by holding on to more. It’s better to lock in quicker gains.
- Cut losses quickly if penny stocks violate support levels. Don’t hope losing trades will reverse. Quick exits preserve trading capital.
Finding Penny Stocks to Swing Trade
While there are thousands of penny stocks, the majority should be avoided for trading. Focus on higher quality penny stocks exhibiting the key traits outlined earlier in this article. Here are some productive sources for finding penny stocks to swing trade:
- Screening sites like Finviz, TradingView, and StockFetcher to scan for penny stocks meeting specific criteria.
- Scanning penny stock message boards and reddits like r/pennystocks for chatter on potential swing trades. But beware of hype and fake promotions. Verify any information.
- Swing trade penny stocks with upcoming catalysts based on news alerts and earnings calendar announcements.
- Check penny stocks with recent SEC filings like 10-Q and 8-K forms for fundamental changes that could drive price swings.
- Swing trade familiar penny stocks you have previously watched or traded. Follow a select watchlist of penny stocks exhibiting favorable setups.
Best Swing Trading Platforms for Penny Stocks
Having a proper trading platform is vital for effectively swing trading penny stocks. The best platforms provide the tools, screeners, research, and commission structure ideal for active penny stock traders. Top swing trading platforms for penny stocks:
- Webull – Offers customizable screeners, level 2 data, and paper trading. Very low commissions; no per trade fees. Good for penny stock traders.
- Fidelity – Active Trader Pro platform, extensive research, level 2 quotes, excellent customer service. $0 trades and flat rate pricing are ideal for high volume.
- Interactive Brokers – Low margin rates, advanced trading tools, and platform. Geared towards very active traders. Requires higher minimum balance.
- TradingView – Leading charting platform with ability to screen, scan, and backtest penny stock strategies. Paper trading is available.
- TD Ameritrade – Thinkorswim is excellent for analysis and education. Active trading supports $0 commissions but charges added fees.
Swing Trading Penny Stocks vs Higher Priced Stocks
Penny stocks have some advantages and disadvantages compared to higher priced stocks for swing trading:
Penny Stock Advantages
- Greater volatility results in larger price swings to profit from
- Low per share prices allow small accounts to swing trade without large capital
- Low floats amplify price movements with fewer shares outstanding
Penny Stock Disadvantages
- Higher commissions relative to share price eat into profits
- The spread between bid/ask prices reduces profit potential
- A larger percentage stops needed, resulting in wider exits
- Risk of stocks being delisted if prices fall too far
- Less liquidity makes entering/exiting more difficult
Is Swing Trading Penny Stocks Risky?
Penny stocks carry substantially higher risk than normal stocks for swing trading. Below are some of the key risks to be aware of:
- Volatility Risk – Penny stocks frequently make huge double or triple digit intraday percentage moves in either direction. Volatility can lead to wider than expected stops and sharp drawdowns. Manage risk accordingly.
- Liquidity Risk – Thinly traded penny stocks can gap through exit stops due to lack of liquidity. Look for stocks trading at least 500k shares per day.
- Delisting Risk – Penny stocks trading under $1 run the risk of eventually being delisted if prices continue falling. Avoid stocks under $2.
- Fraud Risk – Shady penny stock companies have been known to engage in manipulative tactics like toxic financing and stock promotion. Trade established companies.
- Financial Risk – Most penny stocks have weaker financials and higher bankruptcy risk, which can lead to sharper plunges. Review financial reports before buying.
Swing Trading Penny Stocks Successfully
While penny stock swing trading is more risky, you can increase your probability of success by:
- Following a defined, proven trading strategy with specific rules and criteria
- Managing trades proactively using stops and position sizing
- Avoiding chasing trades or overtrading
- Booking smaller, quicker profits instead of holding for larger gains
- Staying disciplined, unemotional, and consistently applying your edge.
Remember, even the best penny stock swing traders lose on trades. But by effectively managing risk and maximizing winning trades while minimizing losses, you can achieve long-term profitability trading penny stocks.
To Recap
Swing trading penny stocks can be rewarding, yet it carries a higher level of risk that mandates utilizing sound strategies and risk management principles. Define and stick to your edge, booking small, consistent gains over time to produce long-term profits trading penny stocks.
Focus on quality over quantity, avoiding excessive trading and unplanned deviations from your strategy.
With the proper preparation, routines, and diligence, penny stock swing trading can play a valuable role in an overall investing approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best technical indicators for swing trading penny stocks?
Some of the most useful technical indicators for swing trading penny stocks are moving averages (to identify support/resistance and trends), RSI and MACD (for overbought/oversold levels), candlestick patterns (for reversals), and volume and volume indicators (to gauge buying/selling pressure).
What percentage gain should I target when swing trading penny stocks?
Given the high volatility of penny stocks, realistic profit targets are typically in the 10-20% range if swing trading over a few days or weeks. More conservative traders may aim for 5-10%. Higher gain targets are possible on more volatile penny stocks, but have a plan to book partial profits along the way.
How do I find hot penny stocks to swing trade?
Finding momentum in penny stocks poised for big swings requires research and scanning. Check penny stock message boards for buzzing stocks with price momentum. Screen for penny stocks up 10-20% in the past 1-2 weeks with increasing volume. Look for pending catalysts or news events that could continue propelling prices.
Is swing trading or day trading penny stocks better?
Swing trading penny stocks over several days to weeks generally provides an edge over day trading penny stocks, which requires precise timing and significant leverage to profit from the small intraday moves. Swing trading focuses on bigger multi-day trends and is more forgiving.
How much money do I need to start swing trading penny stocks?
While account minimums differ across brokers, you can start swing trading penny stocks with around $500-$1000. Focus on maximizing returns using proper position sizing and smart risk management rather than the overall account size. Too little capital can hinder your trading, but don’t think huge capital is required.
What should my stop loss percentage be when swing trading penny stocks?
Start with wider stop losses given the volatility, around 10-15% below your entry price. You can trail stops higher once a profit cushion has been established. Using dollar amount stops rather than percentages helps control risk on lower priced penny stocks. Adjust the stop placement based on the stock’s volatility.
Is swing trading penny stocks legal?
Yes, swing trading penny stocks is perfectly legal as long as you are not violating insider trading laws or taking part in any form of market manipulation. Focus on utilizing your own analysis when trading. As long as you are operating ethically, swing trading penny stocks is allowed in the stock market.
In another related article, The Hottest Stocks to Day Trade in 2024 Based on Volume and Volatility